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'Everything I saw was a stunning juxtaposition: open land and busy streets, rich tradition and anxious development.'
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Bulgaria is a compact country with affordable transportation - it's a great place to see a variety of landscapes and cultures within a relatively short visit.

Bulgarian cities and towns are a fascinating mix of ancient and modern cultures, boasting layer upon layer of rich heritage. The capital, Sofia, is a beautiful and vibrant city at the foot of the majestic Vitosha mountain. Sofia has grand old buildings, modern shopping boulevards and intimate narrow back streets. In the southern city of Plovdiv the pace of life is slower. A trip to its walking lanes, traditional houses and the street vendors of its 'Old Town' is a must. The medieval capital Veliko Turnovo, stuns with its ancient fortress and dramatic location, high above its winding river gorges. National Revival architecture is preserved in a number of 'museum' towns like Koprivshtitsa and Melnik.

Half of Bulgaria's territory is made up of mountains and there are four distinct ranges, each with its own character. Alpine in outline, the Pirin and Rila ranges (in the South-West) are the highest. Sparsely populated, with many mountain-top lakes, both are great places for serious hiking and rock climbing. At 2925 m, the Moussala peak in the Rila range is the highest in the Balkan Peninsula. The Rhodopi range (in the South) is warmer and gentler and better suited to leisurely hiking. The many scattered villages are home to people of different ethnic origins and religion. The Stara Planina (or Balkan) range cuts across Bulgaria from Sofia in the west to the Black Sea in the east.

Elements of a deeply rooted folk culture are preserved in the remote villages where time has stood still. Shiroka Luka, Bozhentsi, Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Zheravna have a tradition of welcoming tourists but opportunities for rural tourism in other areas are growing.

Bulgaria has 380 km of coastline with everything from rugged secluded beaches to fully developed resorts. With sandy beaches making up 25% of the coastline, the country offers affordable package holidays at resorts like Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Albena where nightlife in the summer is excellent. However, for the real charm of Bulgaria's seaside, try the smaller towns such as Nessebur, Sozopol and Balchik. With their ancient ruins and lively arts scenes, they're the best place to soak up the atmosphere, in or out of high season. Summer, which lasts from June to September, is warm and sunny - ideal for beach and water sports in the Black Sea.